Craft Site Directory Newsletter: September 2005
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SECTION 3):*~*: Getting Started on Your Handmade Holiday Cards
Learn new card making techniques online.
A huge variety of techniques can be used to make your own unique Christmas cards, or cards for any occasion.
Have you heard of spirella? What about iris folding? Have you ever tried quilling or tea bag folding(also known as kaleidoscope folding)? Other techniques that can be used for card making include paper embroidery, decoupage and rubber stamping.
In the US, blank greeting cards and envelopes usually come in packs of 8-10 cards and cost about $3.00. You may already have supplies on hand for some of the techniques listed below, so it can be quite inexpensive to create stunning greeting cards.
Spirella:
For spirella, you start with a template containing evenly spaced notches. You then wrap thread or other cording around it to form a pattern. By choosing colors like reds, greens, and gold, beautiful Christmas cards can be made using this technique. Spirella is easy to learn and no special supplies are needed. You can make your own templates and use papers and thread that you have on hand.
Visit the following links for spirella instructions and project ideas:
http://www.lisavollrath.com/articles/012.html
http://www.cardinspirations.co.uk/demo/index.htm
Iris Folding:
Iris folding is an easy to learn paper folding technique. Strips of paper are folded in half then layered in a spiral pattern. Typically, you start with a numbered template and follow a pattern guide that tells you where to place each folded strip of paper. For iris folding, good cutting skills are needed because it requires cutting an aperature in your card stock. Or you can use blank greeting cards with pre-cut aperatures.
http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/irisfolding/
Visit these links for iris folding instructions:
http://www.irisfolding.circleofcrafters.com/irisfoldingheart.html
http://www.cardinspirations.co.uk/tech/iris_folding.htm
Here you can find free iris folding patterns with holiday related themes:
Angel: http://www.irisfolding.circleofcrafters.com/irisfoldingangel.html
Christmas Tree: http://www.irisfolding.circleofcrafters.com/irisfoldingxmastree.html
Snowman: http://www.irisfolding.circleofcrafters.com/patternofthemonth.html
Christmas Package and Tree: http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ideas_library/idea_334.html
Paper Embroidery:
Using this technique, the results are similiar to the effects you get from spirella. For paper embroidery, you use a needle to make holes in your card stock in the shape you want to use. You then run thread through the small holes to create a unique design.
For more information about any of the other techniques mentioned in this article, visit these links:
http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/cardmaking/ - Look for the papers icon to find lots of card making ideas!
http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/decoupage/
http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/quilling/
http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/rubberstamping/
http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/teabagfolding/
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SECTION 1):*~*: What's New at CraftSiteDirectory.com?
Have you stopped by lately?
SECTION 2):*~*: Help Hurricane Katrina Victims through Arts & Crafts
What others are doing and what you can do.
SECTION 3):*~*: Getting Started on Your Handmade Holiday Cards
Learn new card making techniques online.
SECTION 4):*~*: New Freebie Sites at CraftSiteDirectory.com
See what's new in our free stuff category.
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